Introduction to GIS Mapping and ArcGIS

8/3/2019 Introduction to GIS Mapping and ArcGIS

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Introduction to GIS Mapping and ESRIs ArcGIS Software

Objectives

In this exercise you are introduced to the ArcMap interface and some of the basic skills necessary to begin exploringgeospatial data and create simple maps. Once you have successfully completed this part of the tutorial, you shouldknow:

How to open ArcMap and a Map Document(.mxd)

How to examine your spatial data usingArcCatalog

How to add spatial data to your Map Document

How to join tabular data to geographicboundary files

How to perform Geoprocessing analyses

The difference between Data View and LayoutView

How to alter Map Feature Symbology

How to add Essential Map Elements (NorthArrow, Legend, etc) for effective map creation

How to modify the properties of a data frame.

How to set relative pathnames to allow you tomove and share your Map Projects

How to export your map to PDF and JPG

Download the DataThe datasets used in this tutorial are available for download on the Map Collection Website. Feel free to download anduse these tutorial materials, as you wish, and to pass them along to interested colleagues.

Go To the Map Collection Homepage (www.library.yale.edu/maps) in yourWeb Browser.

Under the Quick Links Section on the right, Clickon the Download GIS Workshop Materials link.

Find the Data Link (ArcGIS 9.3.1 (2009 Sessions) ) for the Introduction to GIS Mapping and ESRIs ArcGIS Software.and Right-Clickon the Link.

In Firefox, Select Save Link As, in Internet Explorer, Select Save Target As

Depending on your browser and setup, you may be offered a Browse Window, to select the folder into which you wantthe downloaded file placed. If so, Browse to a Folderon your hard drive that you have write permission for. For thistutorial, we will assume that you are using the C:\temp folder of the machine you are working on.

Save the Downloaded File to this C:\temp\ Folder.

Unzip the DataYou should now have a file called Introduction_to_ArcGIS_2009.zipin your new folder. It is now necessary todecompress, or unzip, the tutorial data for use. Note that in Microsoft Windows XP and Vista, it is possible to Explorea compressed file, as if it were a folder. ArcMap does not support this type of browsing, so it is necessary to actuallyunzip the file for use. This part of the tutorial assumes that you are using Windows built in Compressed File support.

Browse into the Folder where you saved the Introduction_to_ArcGIS_2009.zipfile.

Right-Clickon the File and SelectExtract All

ClickNext to arrive at the window shown at the right.

ClickNext to Extract the File.

The Yale Map Collection

At Sterling Memorial Library130 Wall Street, Room 707

Stacey Maples GIS Assistant

203-432-8269 / [email protected]/maps


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Exploring the Data in ArcCatalog

1. From the Windows Start Menu, go to Start>All Programs>ArcGIS>ArcCatalog

This is the ArcCatalog Application of the ArcGIS Suite. It is roughly equivalent to the Windows Explorer interface, in that

it provides an interface from which to browse and manage geographic data and databases. Because Windows Explorerdoes not properly recognize all of the various components of geographic datasets, it is always best to use ArcCatalog tomanage your data.

The panel on the left side of the ArcCatalog Screen is the Catalog Tree where you can browse folders on your systemfor geographic data. Note that only folders and files compatible with ArcGIS will be displayed in the Catalog Tree andthe View Windows on the right.

1. Expand the C:\ Drive Icon in the ArcCatalog Tree, find the C:\Temp folder and expand it, then Click on theIntroduction_to_ArcGIS_2009 Folder to display its contents in the Contents Tab of the View Window on the

right.

Youll notice several files in this folder, not all of which are actually geographic data, but are in some way, supported inArcGIS. The most important of these files for our purposes are the Beaver_Ponds_Area.gdb and theBeaver_Ponds_Area.mxd.

Well explore the Beaver_Ponds_Area.gdb. first.

1. In the Catalog Tree, on the left, expand the Beaver_Ponds_Area.gdb to reveal its contents.






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This dataset is referred to as a File Geodatabase, and it contains several different types of geographic data, includingvector feature classes, raster data in the form of imagery and tabular data related to the geographic data in thegeodatabase. It is important to note that the File Geodatabase is a file structure that can only be managed withinArcCatalog.

1. Click on the LandCover_NewHaven_20081 Raster Layer

2. Click on the Preview Tab in the View Window on the right of ArcCatalog.

Note that you can preview the geographic dataset in ArcCatalog.

3. At the bottom of the Preview Screen, change the Preview: Drop-down to Table, and examine the table for thisdataset.

4. Change to the Metadata Tab, at the top of the ArcCatalog View Window, and Select the Spatial Page.

Metadata is Data about Data. In this case, there is not much to see, except for the very important information aboutthe Spatial Reference of the Dataset. Here, ArcCatalog displays the Projection being used for this dataset, as well asthe underlying Coordinate System.

1. In the Catalog Tree, find the Beaver_Ponds_Area.mxd

2. Double-click on the Beaver_Ponds_Area.mxd Document.






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Exploring the Map Document in ArcMap

Adding Data to a Map Document

This .MXD file is the Map Document. Currently, it has many data layers already added. Before we go any further, wewill add another data layer to the map document.

1. On the Standard Toolbar, click the Add Data Button .

2. Browse to the C:\Temp folder and into your Introduction_to_ArcGIS_2009\Beaver_Ponds_Area.gdb

3. Find and Select the URI_Tree_Survey feature class.

4. Click Add.

5. If necessary, click on the checkbox next to the newly added URI_Tree_Survey Layer, at the top of the Table ofContents.

Because you are zoomed so far out of the Data Frame, you may not immediately see the tree points render in the map.





Table of

Contents

DataFrame

ToolsToolbar

StandardToolbar

MainMenu


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Change the Symbology of theURI_Tree_Survey Layer

1. Click on the Point Symbol, underneath theURI_Tree_Survey Layer name, in the Table ofContents.

2. In the Symbol Selector dialog box, select Circle2, and click OK.

You may now notice that the tree layer is slightly more visible.

Navigating the Data Frame in ArcMap

Now you will familiarize yourself with the navigation tools in ArcMap.

1. The Zoom In and Zoom Out Tools work, for the most part, like you would expect. Select the Zoom In Tool

and drag a box across a small area in the center of the Data Frame.

2. Select the Zoom Out Tool and click several times in the center of the Data Frame.

3. Click on the Previous Extent Button and note that it works much like the back button on your web browser,

stepping you back through your previous extents. The Next Extent Button steps you forward through yourextent history, in the same way.

4. The Data Pan Tool is used to change the extentof your Data View, without changing the scale atwhich the data is viewed.

5. The Info Tool is used to quickly query theattributes of one or more of the features in your DataFrame. You can click on a single feature to bring itsattribute table up, or you can drag a box to view the

attributes of several features.

6. The Select Elements Tool doesnt do much in the Data View, but is a good tool to keep active, for thisreason.

7. Finally, on the Main Menu, go to Bookmarks>Beaver Ponds Area to zoom to the original extent of the MapDocument.






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Exploring the Table of Contents

The Table of Contents is the Panel on the left side of the ArcMap interface. It is where all of your Layer Names aredisplayed in ArcMap and where, for the most part, you interact with those layers.

1. Click on the + sign next to the Census Layers Group to Expand it in the Table of Contents.

Note that one of the layers in this group is enabled; however since the group that contains it is not enabled (checked) itis not currently displayed in the Data Frame.

2. Click in the Census Layers checkbox to enable the visibility of the Census Layers Group.

3. Enable visibility for the SimplyMap_Census_Block_Groups_New_Haven_County_CT Layer.

4. Click-Hold-Drag-Drop the Census_Blocks Layer to just above theSimplyMap_Census_Block_Groups_New_Haven_County_CT Layer.

Note that the red boundary lines for the Census Blocks from the Census_Blocks layer are now visible on top of theSimplyMap_Census_Block_Groups_New_Haven_County_CT Layer. The order of display in the Table of Contents is

the order of Display in the Data Frame.

5. Right-Click on the SimplyMap_Census_Block_Groups_New_Haven_County_CT Layer and take a look at thecontext menu options available.

6. Select Open Attribute Table.

7. Scroll to the right of the Attribute Table and take a look at the attribute values contained in this Feature Class.

8. Click on the Options Button and take a look at the actions available.

9. Select Clear Selection.

10. Right-Click on the MedianHouseholdIncome Field Header and Select Statistics. Note the report available, andthat you can switch to other attribute fields within the Statistics Report window.

11. Close the Statistics Report.

12. Close the Attribute Table.

13. Click on the Source Tab, at thebottom of the Table of Contents.

Note that this TOC View shows the paths toall datasets that are in the Map Document.Note also, at the bottom of the TOC SourceTab View, that there is a table

(LULC_Lookup_Table) that was not visible inthe Display Tab View of the TOC. This isbecause this table does not have explicitgeographic data to visualize in the Data Frame.

14. Click on the Selection Tab of the TOC.

This is where you can assign the Selectable Layers within your ArcMap Document. This is most useful when you are

using the interactive Select Features Tool , since this tools default is to select features from ALL LAYERS. The






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currently selectable layers should be set to the SimplyMap_Census_Block_Groups_New_Haven_County_CT Layerand the URI_Tree_Survey Layer. If they are not, check these layers and uncheck all others.

15. Click on the Display Tab of theTOC.

Symbolizing a Layerbased on anAttribute Value

1. Right-Click on the

SimplyMap_Census_Block_Groups_New_Haven_County_CT Layer and Select Properties.

2. Click on the Symbology Tab, at the top of the Properties Dialog Box.

3. In the Left panel of the Symbology Properties, select Quantities and leave Graduated Colors as the selectedmethod.

4. In the Fields:Value: Drop-down, select MedianHouseholdIncome asthe field to base symbology upon.

5. Under Color Ramp: Select the Red to Green Color Ramp.

6. In the Legend Panel, where the Classes and corresponding colorsshould now be displayed, click on the Label field header and selectFormat Labels.

7. 7. Select Currency and

click OK.

8. Click Apply to Preview yourSymbology.

9. Click on the Display Tab.

10. Set the Transparent Propertyto 40%.






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11. Click OK

Normalization of Data for Symbology

1. Uncheck the

SimplyMap_Census_Block_Groups_New_Haven_County_CT Layer to turn off its visibility.

2. Right-Click the SimplyMap_Census_Block_Groups_New_Haven_County_CT Layer and select Copy.

3. Right-Click on the Census Layers Group name and Select Paste Layer(s).

4. Make the new layer visible.

5. Open the Properties for the newly pasted layer and click on theSymbology Tab.

6. Change the Fields:Value: drop-down to VacantUnits.

7. For the Normalization Field, select TotalUnits.

8. For the Color Ramp, select the White to Orange Ramp.

9. Click on the Labels Header and open the Format Labels dialog.

10. Select Percentage, and click on the number represents afraction option.






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11. Click on the Numeric OptionsButton.

12. Set the Rounding option to 2decimal places.

13. Click ok, twice.






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Selecting Features by Attributes

Now you will select the Census Blocks you have beenassigned to survey and will focus on that area for theremainder of the tutorial.

1. Use the following values for the next steps TRACT#:141500 ; CENSUS BLOCK #s: 8002 & 8003

2. On the Main Menu, go to Selection>Select byAttributes.

3. For the Target Layer, select Census_Blocks.

4. Make sure Create New Selection is the Method.

5. Find the TRACT2000 Field name and double-click itto place it in the Query Window.

6. Click on the = operator button.

7. Click Get Unique Values, and double-click yourTract Number.

8. Click the AND button.

9. Click on the () button and place your cursor insidethe parentheses.

10. Double-Click BLOCK2000


12. Click Get Unique Values, and double-click your first Block Number.

13. Click on the OR Button

14. Double-Click BLOCK2000


16. Click Get Unique Values, and double-click your second Block Number.

17. Click the Verify Button to check your syntax.

18. Click OK to apply the Selection.

19. On the Main Menu, go to Selection>Zoom to Selected Features. Verify that the Block Labels match yourassigned blocks.

20. On the Main Menu, go to Bookmarks>Create and name your new bookmark My Blocks






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Selecting Features Based On Location

Now, you will select the trees in your area, based upon theirproximity to the Census Blocks you just selected.

1. On the Main Menu, go to Selection>Select by Location.

2. Check the URI_Tree_Survey as the only layer to beselected.

3. Make sure that next drop-down is set to intersect.

4. The next drop-down needs to be set toCensus_Blocks.

5. Use selected features should be automaticallychecked.

6. Check the Apply a buffer option and set it to 30 feet.

7. Click Apply and observe the results in your Data Frame.

8. Click OK to close the Select by Location dialog box.Your selection should remain active.






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Summarizing the Tree Species Distribution for your Assigned Blocks

1. On the Standard Toolbar, click the ArcToolbox Button to open the ArcToolbox Panel.

2. Click on the Search Tab, at thebottom of the ArcToolbox Panel.

3. Enter Frequency as the SearchTerm and click Search.

4. Double-Click on the Frequency Analysis Tools search result tolaunch the Frequency dialog box.

5. Click Show Help at the bottom ofthe dialog to show the contextsensitive help panel for this tool.

6. Select URI_Tree_Survey as theInput Table.

7. The default Output Table should be :

C:\temp\INTRODUCTION_TO_ARCGIS_2009\Beaver_Ponds_Area.gdb\URI_Tree_Survey_Frequency. If it isnot, change it accordingly.

8. Select COMM_NAME as the Frequency Field.

9. Click OK to run the analysis

10. Switch to the Source Tab of the TOC.






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11. Scroll to the bottom of the TOC and find the URI_Tree_Survey_Frequency Table, right-click and Open it.

12. Right-Click on the Frequency Field Header and select Sort Descending.

13. Close the URI_Tree_Survey_Frequency Table.

14. Turn off the visibility of the all but the Census Blocks Layer in the Census Layers Group.

15. Turn on the visibility of the Infrastructure Layers & Carto LayersGroups.






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Creating a Map

Getting Familiar with Layout Mode

1. Look for the View Toolbar at the bottom left of the Data Frame and click on the Layout Button,which looks like a piece of paper.

Notice that you should now see the Layout Toolbar, which contains many tools that are nearly identical inappearance to those on the Tools toolbar.

2. Select the Layout Zoom Tool and drag a box across some portion of the Map Document Layout that now isshown in place of the Data Frame.

Note that the scale of the map does not change, but that you are now zooming into the Map Layout. The rest of theLayout Tools function in the same way. While they mimic the actions of the Tools Toolbar navigation tools, they acton the Page Layout, rather than the Map Data.

3. Click on the Page Extent Button to zoom to the full page layout.






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Cleaning up the Legend

1. Select the Select Elements Tool and click on the Legend in the map layout until it is the only objecthighlighted bright blue, with resize handles.

2. Right-Click the selected Legend and openits Properties.

3. Using the Ctrl Key, highlight all but theURI_Tree_Survey and Utility PointsLayers.

4. Click on the Remove Button toremove the selected items from thelegend. Click Apply. Click OK.

5. In the TOC, Click once on theURI_Tree_Survey Layer name, wait asecond and click again to highlight it forediting.

6. Replace the underscores _ with clankspaces.

7. Change REINV to Status, using thesame method.

8. If necessary, resize the legend, using theblue resize handle at the upper rightcorner.






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Adding a Graph of Tree Species Frequency

1. On the Main Menu, go to Tools>Graphs>Create.

2. Change the Graph Type to Horizontal bar.

3. Change the Layer/Table toURI_Tree_Survey_Frequency.

4. Make FREQUENCY the Value Field.

5. For Y Label Field, Select COMM_NAME.

6. Change Horizontal Axis to Top

7. Uncheck Add to Legend

8. Change Color: to Palette/Victorian

9. Click Next.

10. Uncheck Graph Legend.

11. Click Finish.

12. Right-Click in the Graph and select Add toLayout

13. Move and resize the Layout Graph, asneeded.

14. Close the Graph Window.






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Adding and Altering Additional Map Elements

North Arrow

1. On the Main Menu, go to Insert>North Arrow.

2. Choose a North Arrow, and Click OK.

3. Resize and reposition the North Arrow, asneeded.

Formatting Text

1. Using the elects Elements Tool , select the

red text in the lower right corner of the MapLayout.

2. Right-click on the selected text and open itsproperties.

3. Replace the Text with the Names of your Crew Members. Click OK

Exporting Your Map to PDF

1. On the Main Menu, go to File>Export Map.

2. Change the Save As Type to PDF.

3. Set the Resolution to 200dpi

4. Under the Format Tab, Check Convert Marker Symbols to Polygons and Embed All Document Fonts

5. Browse to the C:\Temp\ folder and save your PDF using the Default Filename (which is the name of your MapDocument).

6. Click Save.

The Yale Map Collection Stacey Maples GIS Assistant

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Introduction to GIS Mapping and ArcGIS